Richard Branson’s new private equity firm to add headcount in London and the U.S.

London-based Metric Capital Partners is going to give Virgin billionaire Richard Branson some additional help. The private equity firm, which will be co-managing Branson’s planned $600m fund, plans to add headcount both in London and in the U.S.

A source close to the firm told eFinancialCareers that Metric Capital hopes to eventually hire as many as 10 investment professionals split between London and a yet-to-be-determined office in the U.S., likely in New York, though other cities will be considered depending on the talent pool. The PE firm is looking to add mid-level and senior people with buy-side experience, the source said. Metric Capital declined to comment on potential growth plans associated with the new fund.

By partnering with Branson on a fund that will specifically target consumer companies, Metric Capital will be making its first foray into the U.S. market after spending its first seven years concentrating on small- and medium-sized businesses in Europe. It will be hoping that Branson’s caché and network – along with the planned new hires – will allow it to join a crowded private equity scene in the U.S. Branson is said to have a long-standing relationship with Metric managing partner John Sinik.

“I have been impressed by the development and growth of Metric Capital,” Branson said in a statement. “Their experience in the rapidly changing consumer and digital markets is particularly attractive and I look forward to helping John and his team with this new fund.”

Judging by its current roster, getting into Metric Capital will take a strong resume. Recent hires include Miro Angelov, a former M&A associate at Goldman Sachs with a masters from Copenhagen Business School and a graduate summer at Harvard, and Tijana Copic, a former summer analyst at Goldman who spent four years at Greenhill & Co. before joining the firm in 2017, according to LinkedIn.

Metric Capital also appears to have a knack for employee retention. All six principals and partners who were there for the launch of the private equity firm in May of 2011 are still with the company, according to Bloomberg profiles and the company’s website.

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